Liberation of Goa

India got her independence on 15th August 1947. But her freedom
could not be considered complete while some foreign pockets still continued to
exist on her soil, both on the Eastern and the Western coasts. The French in
Pondicherry on the Eastern coast were realistic and made a politically sagacious
gesture in ceding their colony by agreement. But the Portuguese Government
continued to challenge the logic of history and world evolution by expressing
its determination to have their hold on what was recognized by all as purely
Indian territory, inhabited by Indians. It simply refused to discuss the
transfer of their settlements in India to the Republic of India. Even
International opinion failed to move the Portuguese Government. India which all
along had been anxious for a peaceful settlement, had maintained a legation in
Lisbon up to 1953, and had also made unceasing efforts through the United
Nations to that end. All her peaceful overtures, however, failed to evoke a
response from the Portuguese regime.

Although the Government of India stuck to her policy of settlement by
negotiation, the tension among the people began to mount, as a result of the
Portuguese authority's resort to force, against the peaceful Satyagrahis in 1955 and later.
Finally, when in 1961 the Portuguese fired from Anjidiv island at Indian coastal
steamers and fishing boats, the tension reached its height, and India decided to
liberate the territories by force.

Indian Armed Forces marched into Goa and in three days time, without much
resistance, succeeded in their goal. The small Portuguese army could not withstand
the might of the Indian force. So on 19th December 1961, General Candeth,
the Chief of Indian Army, hoisted Indian tricolor for the first time over Panaji's Palace.

General Candeth who had led the Indian Army in the liberation of Goa was made
Deputy Governor of Goa. After that Shri T. Shivshankar took over the reins of
the Government from the Army.

In 1963 Goa had its first general election. A Government chosen by the people
came into power for the first time. Bhausaheb Dayanand Bandodkar had the honor
of becoming the first Chief Minister of Goa.